The prison developed a systematic approach to conduct brainwashing of practitioners in its attempt to make us renounce our belief in Falun Gong. Within each ward, the practitioners were placed in separate cells and not allowed to see one another. Under isolation, we were bombarded day in and day out with various materials vilifying Falun Gong. Chen forced us to read Party propaganda and watch videos slandering Falun Gong, commit disrespectful acts against Falun Gong and its founder, and write “thought reports” renouncing our beliefs. Each practitioner must also pass frequent “tests” to demonstrate parting ways with Falun Gong. Those who failed the tests were subjected to more coercive brainwashing, mental and/or physical abuse.

For the last 15 years, the Chinese Communist Party has been leading an oppressive persecution of the peaceful spiritual practice Falun Gong, resulting in the unjust incarceration of countless Falun Gong practitioners in prisons and forced labour camps. The 610 Office (an organisation of special agents just for persecuting Falun Gong) was established on June 10th, 1999, for the specific task of implementing the persecution nationwide.

Ms. Yan Xiling, 56, from Qingzhou City, Shandong Province, spent six years in a forced labour camp. She was recently secretly sentenced to seven years and is now in custody in the Jinan Women's Jail. Previously, in Wangcun Women's Forced Labour Camp Ms. Yan was forced to watch videos and listen to recordings defaming and attacking Falun Gong. She was not allowed to sleep or take a shower. She had to stand until her feet were badly swollen. For over ten days, she was not allowed to sleep.

Prison guard captain Liu Jie sent me to Liaoning Women's Prison's hospital ward on January 13th, 2012. She cursed me again, “You will lead the most painful life here.” Liu didn't get her bonus at the end of 2011, because I refused to “transform” [forcibly renounce Falun Gong]. Starting from December 14th, 2012, I noticed strange additions in my food. My drinking water also smelled like medicine. Even the food that my daughter brought for me tasted strange. On January 2nd, 2013, I had difficulty breathing again.

Upon my arrival at Liaoning Women's Prison, prison guard captain Liu Jie assigned me to rack torture for a week. My arms and legs were bound to four corners of a metal bed. There was no mattress on the bed, just a wooden board. I was tied in this position all week, 24 hours a day. I couldn't see my feet, but my hands were black and blue. The skin around my tailbone was ground open from my restricted movements. I experienced multiple spasms that week.

Ms. Liu Zhi, a 51-year-old Shenyang resident, has been tortured to the verge of death multiple times since 2010, simply for practising Falun Gong. Within half a year of detention in Liaoning Women's Prison starting in July 2011, Ms. Liu was tortured to the point of immobility. However, the prison denied her application for medical parole, citing that she had not given up her beliefs.

News about the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners is censored in China and a taboo subject for state-run media. Practitioners have been arrested, tortured and even persecuted to death for informing the public about this persecution. Writing or printing words explaining the facts about the persecution on paper currency (money) has become popular in many areas in China in recent years, and has proven to be a great way to inform the public. Police from Wuhan City have been arresting practitioners and trying to stop these notes from circulating.

Looking back at the persecution he has suffered over the years, Mr. Liu Yongjin knows that unless he tells his story, no one will ever know the truth. “Because of the strict information blockade and family visitation denials, only the people who persecuted me know what happened—no one else knows,” he said. “And they will make up any excuse to hide their crimes.” After suffering forced-feeding and torture for a month, Mr. Liu was sentenced to the Tai'an Prison by the Lanshan District Court on March 21st, 2008. The trial took place at the Linyi Brainwashing Centre and lasted only 5 minutes.

Ms. Li Tong is the Publicity Department Director of the Benxi Women's Federation, a highly placed position. After she was arrested for exposing an illegal trial of Falun Gong practitioners, the police tried to use the loss of her job as leverage against her. She was told, “It would be a shame to lose such a good job. Why don't you just give up Falun Gong?” Li Tong firmly refused, and is still detained today at the Benxi Detention Centre.

The Chaoyang Intermediate Court has upheld the lower court's 10-year prison sentence for Ms. Zhang Yuzhuo. Her lawyer denounced the lower court's verdict during the hearing on June 24th, 2014, saying, “An ordinary person like Ms. Zhang is treated like a terrorist and sentenced to 10 years in prison. She's been deprived of her civil rights for two years. Ms. Zhang believes in kindness and exercises to keep fit. Why is she being treated like a murderer, arsonist, or terrorist? Such a sentence is an abuse of the law and a violation of justice and conscience.” The judge had nothing to say in reply. The original sentence was upheld.

Mr. Zhong Dongsheng, one of the 13 practitioners arrested in July 2014, was brutally beaten during the arrest and later tortured during interrogation. He became emaciated and weak after a hunger strike and both of his legs became swollen. Mr. Zhong was taken to the county hospital for a blood sample after the arrest. It is noted that Chinese authorities take blood samples from practitioners for possible future organ harvesting.

At least 614 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested between July 1st and July 24th across China, according to data collected as of July 27th. Liaoning, Shandong, Jilin, and Sichuan provinces have the most arrests, each with over 70. Most of the arrested practitioners were taken to brainwashing centres for short-term detentions. More than 30 large-scale arrests (of five or more practitioners) took place in July in 13th provinces and municipalities.

Falun Gong practitioner Ms. Yu Yeyi, 70, has been detained at the Qianzhugou Brainwashing Centre for over a month. The intense brainwashing and mistreatment she has been subjected to has reportedly caused her to be disfigured. Since she refused to renounce her belief in Falun Gong, she is not allowed to have visitors. Officials at the brainwashing centre said that there will be no visitation rights until she “transforms” [forcibly renounce Falun Gong].

Ms. Jia Changzhi, 80, was arrested in 2012 and secretly sentenced to three years in the Jilin Women's Prison. Ms. Jia had been arrested and tortured many times by the police since the persecution started in 1999, for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. In 2005, Ms. Jia was arrested by police and interrogated for over 10 hours, as she was carrying Falun Gong informational materials, and the police wanted to know who gave her them. She was tortured because she refused to tell them. Officer Zhang Naijiang claimed: “Despite your age, I shall find two beggars to rape you.” After 10 plus hours of torture, her body was covered with bruises. Even her feet turned black and blue. ThMs. Jia's hands were cuffed to the window frame and her feet were shackled. The top of her feet could barely touch the floor.

Mr. Li Xiaobo, a real estate executive, was arrested for distributing flyers about Falun Gong. His attorney recently met with him and found out that he had lost sight in his left eye. The authorities have denied his request for medical parole, and his family members are very concerned about him. Mr. Li and his son, Mr. Li Zhe, were arrested by officers from the Hong’an Police Station on April 12th, 2014. Mr. Li Zhe, who is a Canadian citizen, was repatriated soon after.